Part I - It's Just Like Riding a Bike

You know the saying...the moment you think you have forgotten how to do something some wise person says "you know, it's just like riding a bike!" This is supposed to make you feel more confident because, of course, you will always remember how to ride a bike!

NOT!!!

This past weekend I took our annual trip to Cape May with the sisters. We have stayed at the same Bed and Breakfast for the last three years, and have already booked for next year - we love it so much!

Every year we try something new that we hadn't done there before. We've toured an old estate; took a "haunted house tour" on a trolley; took the ferry to Lewes, DE for the day; and rented a Surry (for a long hour) and bicycles! You know, because you never forget how to ride a bike!  May I stop here and say it has been a good 30 years for me, and 15 or so for Carol and Marcia since our cheeks have touched a bicycle seat!

Our B and B provides bikes for the adventurous- so we thought - why not?

Just picking out the right bicycle and mounting it was a real treat! Marcia's handle bars felt "weird" - so we traded bikes. Carol's bike was too tall for her so I traded my bike (aka Marcia's bike with the "weird" handle bars) for hers. After a trial run into the curb she wanted her other bike back. So we finally took off with Carol in the lead, Marcia in the middle, and I took up the rear.  After a few false starts along with lots of wobbling due to balance issues, we were on our way! Oh, boy!

Pedal, pedal, huff, huff, wobble, wobble, pedal, pedal, huff, huff, wobble, wobble -and so it went for the next 90 minutes! The sights were beautiful, but the sight of us must have been another story!

Nearing the end we all stopped at a stop sign at a very busy intersection. Carol continued on and Marcia waited for the next break in traffic. As she took off she started to wobble, finally putting her feet down to "walk" across the street. I patiently waited for her to get on her bike and start peddling. She'd go a little bit, wobble, and put her feet down. I think she forgot how to ride her bike!!!

After several attempts she got going and I crossed the street to join her. By this time Carol was several blocks away unaware of Marcia's struggles.

We continued on and as we approached our B and B we noticed a bunch of people gathered at the end of the driveway. Uh-oh!! Carol had crashed her bike pulling into the driveway! Thank goodness she was okay! Just a bruise on her arm and leg - no blood!

Just so you know...those "wise " people are not so wise - you can forget how to ride a bike!!

FORE... or is it FOUR??

FOUR…not rain or snow or sleet or hail can keep my honey from his latest addiction!  He has become a four-season golfer.  Now, I don’t mean traveling to warm and sunny locations during the cold, wintery months…although he does that also…I mean being creative and finding ways to play year-round golf…here…in snowy, cold Pennsylvania.

Lately my honey has decided to “up” his game, so he is taking lessons AND watches every golf coach known to man on the Golf Channel or the computer.  He practices all the time.  In the house, in the mancave, and probably in his dreams!

One of his newest mancave toys is a golf simulator where he plays golf every day, and sometimes is joined by one of his golfing buddies.  He has purchased special clubs and gadgets to help correct what is wrong with his life-long swing.  He is determined to “get it right” so he can play out his retired years the correct way.

Today I looked out the window and found him standing in the driveway hitting balls towards the creek.  Not sure what happens when it is mowing time.  Maybe at Easter we can do a “golf ball hunt” instead of an “Easter egg hunt”!  FORE!!!

I am almost perfect...

As I slowly descend that hill I climbed so rapidly in my youth, I realize that this side of the hill can be quite comical.  I guess having a good attitude about aging helps.  After all, we really have no control over it, so why fight it!

There are several things I have gotten really good at as I age.  Most of them bring my children to a state of embarrassment, or if nothing else…doubled over in laughter.  Hopefully when they reach my age they will accept their children’s reactions as joyfully as I accept theirs!

Things I have perfected:

Brushing my teeth while squatting…really helps with lower back issues.

Holding on to or leaning on the wall while putting on my underwear and pants…really helps from falling over!

Buckling or unbuckling shoes/boots with my foot propped on the bed…can’t seem to twist and bend anymore!

Snoring, I have really perfected this!  My poor husband spends most nights on the floor or in the recliner in our room…geesh,  get over it, already!   LOL!

Getting up in the morning - a 3 part process - sit-up, stand-up, count to 3 before moving…really helps with the blood flow so that I can move!

Talking to myself including having a two-way conversation…my daughter gets a real kick out this!  I was actually having an argument with myself the other day which went something like this “Yes”…”No”… “ummm Yes”.  At least I got the answer I wanted!!

  

Turning up the TV…I think the remote does not work properly, because a “25” used to be perfect and now it’s more like a “30”!  Better yet try CLOSED CAPTION!!!  Love it!

Smiling and nodding when I haven’t a clue what you just said to me…I can’t help it if a) you don’t look at me when you talk to me and b) you talk like you have marbles in your mouth!!

Tooting, you know, without warning…oh, well, what more can I say???

Forgetting everything that anyone has told me…write it down when it’s said if it’s important!  The old hard drive ain't what it used to be!

Sharing and comparing with my friends the latest and greatest medications we are currently on…somehow these I don’t forget!!

Being more patient with my grandchild, and less patient with telemarketers and uninformed customer service representatives…’nuf said.

Talking more and more about how I should a) diet and b) exercise more…talking is good, right?

Walking slowly up and down steps…my knees don’t seem to bend as easily as a few years ago!

But, by far, the best thing I have perfected is:

Spending more time with a) my honey and b) my girlfriends…FINALLY now that the kids are grown it’s ME TIME!!!

Looking forward to what else I can perfect over the next couple of decades!!  Practice makes perfect!

Merry Christmas from our Santas to yours!!

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

For Carrie was bartending at a place we call DUBS,

Where one can get cold beer and some really great grub!

Jessie’s there, too, and much like Carrie you’ll find

She cooks, waits on tables, and makes all “tow the line”!

The two of them spend every spare moment there

Growing the business with responsibilities they share.

Now, Patty in her DUBS shirt stops by quite a lot

To work on the books and give hostessing a shot.

She also spends time, once a week, it is known

At the front desk of their church answering the phone.

While Lex in his golf cap looks forward to each day

That he can get out on the golf course to play!

He works hard at growing his own business also

A place that goes by a name he calls Latro.

The others aren’t nestled all snug in their beds.

Will lives in New York, works at Joe Allen’s instead.

He comes home to visit when time does allow

And sings Karaoke at DUBS for the crowd.

Little Cailyn has grown up and now goes to school

It’s first grade where she has a chance to be cool.

She loves taking dance class, jazz, tap and ballet.

She keeps us all on our toes every day!

Now Leigh, she has found her partner for life.

In September she became Nevin Brede’s wife.

So, the stockings that hang by our chimney here

Will just keep growing like our family, so dear.

While Santas may wear many hats

and spread the magic of Christmas,

may we never forget the true meaning of this holiday.

Wishing you God’s blessings in the New Year.

Love, The Wilkinsons

Our First Littlebird

Yesterday we watched with love-filled hearts as our oldest daughter, Leigh, married the man of her dreams. The wedding took place in Minnesota, where they live. She was the one littlebird that remained there when the rest of the family moved back to Pennsylvania.  Planning this wedding over the last 12+ months has been a challenge because of the distance between us. Thank goodness she inherited all of my organizational genes, because it could not have been a more perfect wedding. Both she and Nevin contributed some very different ideas about the attire, but in the end it was just a beautiful wedding - both sparkly and colorful, just like their personalities!!  I am so happy to welcome my new son-in-law to our family!

I wrote the poem below for our first littlebird and gave it to her the morning of her wedding.

My very first little bird, ‘twas love at first sight

So soft was your skin, your eyes were so bright.

I bundled you up, brought you home to the nest

And mothering you has been the very best!

Through scraped knees and bee stings, and big ugly splinters,

Through springs, summers, falls and bundled up winters,

Through grade school, middle school and then teenage years,

I loved being the one to wipe away your tears.

You’ve grown into a woman who’s remarkably strong

Who knows what she wants, and just where she belongs.

Your smile is like sunshine, your laughter outrageous

Your bubbling demeanor is just plain contagious.

And now, look at you…a beautiful bride!

My heart is just bursting with love and pride.

My very first little bird, ‘twas love at first sight,

and forever and ever, each day and each night

‘til my last breath I’ll love you.  Oh, yes it is true!

My very first little bird, how I love you.

Love, Mom  

Wax On...Wax Off

So, the other day I was cleaning up the house, you know, bouncing from room to room putting things away in their proper spots, folding blankets, fluffing pillows, etc.  We’ve all been there, especially if we have been away for a full day, and left the house unattended, or should I say attended only by a husband, a daughter and a granddaughter.  Things tend to get a bit “messy”.

 

As I was flitting to and fro I decided I was going to discard the candle that was in the warmer and replace it with a new one.  I turned it off…good thinking…but did not wait for it to cool so the wax could harden.  Instead, I reached in and lifted it out, and while trying to place it on the bar to cool it slipped from my fingers.  Uh-oh!!!  “Wax on!”

The candle jar flipped over and poured hot wax all over the bar, the bar stools, and the floor.  What a mess!!  Now, I had to stand there and watch it harden so that I could clean it up!  Plastic spatula in hand I began the very long and tedious process of scraping up the cooled wax.  This worked pretty well for the bar and floor, but not the upholstered seats of the stools.  That required an iron, an extension cord, an old towel and more patience than I had in the moment.  After about 2 hours of the “wax off” part, I just gave up.

Lesson learned…just get over the house being a little “messy”.  There are bigger worries than things out of place…or unfolded blankets…or candles that no longer make the house smell like flowers.

    

Worries like stiff and sore knees from scraping wax off a floor!

April Showers

This year two very special ladies are getting married.  First, my beautiful daughter, Leigh, will marry the man of her dreams in September.  She is the first of my children to get married, and it has been a great joy to help her with the planning…even if it’s been “long distance” as she lives in MN and I live in PA.  We are so excited to welcome Nevin into our family.  Another son for us!!!  The other special lady is my daughter, Carrie’s lifelong best friend, Jamie.  Jamie has been a part of our lives for a very long time, and is considered to be like “one of our kids”.  She is marrying her soulmate, Dave in June.  Blessings all around!

It was my great privilege to host both of their bridal showers in April at the BlessInn.  What fun!!!  I love having my home filled with people, and what better way to do it, then with such a happy occasion as a bridal shower!!

Although these April showers did not bring May flowers, they will bring wedding flowers, and celebrate the love of two couples who are beginning new lives together.   I pray their marriages will be filled with LOVE and HAPPINESS.